The card attached would say, thank you for being this audiobook

One of the best surprises of my life was meeting Rue McClanahan, in big sunglasses and twirling a pink parasol, at a Brooklyn dog show in the early 2000s. A close second was more recently, when I learned there was going to be a Golden Girls cozy mystery. The GASP that I gasped! Reader, Murder by Cheesecake is the real deal. It takes guts and serious talent to write jokes worthy of Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia, and author Rachel Ekstrom Courage has the goods. She nails the voices, character nuances and humour of our beloved foursome, who are hosting a Miami wedding for Rose’s cousin, prompting Dorothy to try a video dating service. But her Prince Charming turns out to be Mr. Obnoxious, and when he’s found dead in a hotel freezer, Dorothy is suspect #1—though no guest can be ruled out. The performance is the cherry on top of this scrumptious, hilarious, heartwarming and feisty cheesecake. —Kat J.

A chance meeting sparks a journey of a lifetime

Author Alka Joshi’s very popular Jaipur Trilogy concluded in 2023, so I was very happy to see this new novel by Joshi—and equally happy to see the return of her go-to narrator, Sneha Mathan. Set in the 1930s to early 1940s, Six Days in Bombay is a sweeping historical novel told through the stories of two women. Sona Falstaff is a young nurse of British and Indian descent, and Mira Novak is a young painter of Czech and Indian descent (based on real-life artist Amrita Sher-Gil). The six days Sona spends caring for Mira teaches her to dream bigger, and sets her on a life-changing journey through Bombay, Prague, Paris, Florence and London. It’s a beautiful tale, and an easy yet richly told listen that any fan of historical fiction will adore. —Tricia F.

It's a wonderful life

Emily Henry is always going to give you more than your typical “boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love in an idyllic location, boy and girl live happily ever after” type of romance. That’s never been more apparent than in her new release, Great Big Beautiful Life. There is, of course, a love story and a dreamy locale—a quaint island off the coast of Georgia—but there’s also so much more: complicated relationships, painful pasts and even a bit of mystery. This heart-wrenching novel follows two competing journalists—my favourite grumpy-sunshine duo Henry has written yet—vying to write the coveted memoir of an aging Hollywood heiress with a scandal-ridden family history. As Henry’s go-to narrator Julia Whelan smoothly takes us from the present to the past and back again, using her abundant vocal range to give a distinct voice to each new character we encounter, this genre-bending masterpiece unfolds in the most gorgeous way. —Margaret H.

Queer fiction that reads like poetry

Although Open, Heaven may be his debut novel, award-winning poet and memoirist Seán Hewitt is no stranger to good writing. Set in a remote English village in the early aughts, this coming-of-age story captures the yearning, sorrow and angst of exploring your sexuality and finding first love. Hewitt perfectly depicts the nuance and heartbreak of young queer discovery, and also explores the often thin line between platonic and romantic entanglements. Told in the lyrical prose of a poet—and beautifully performed by narrator Sebastian Croft—Open, Heaven is sure to be one of the most bittersweet novels of the year, and perfect for anyone in need of a good ugly cry. —Michael C.

An anticipated but bittersweet goodbye

I spent the holidays last year falling in love with the Rebel Blue Ranch series. From the moment I learned that Cam and Dusty had history, I knew their story would be something special, and Wild and Wrangled did not disappoint. Author Lyla Sage delivers an achingly heartfelt conclusion to the series with a second-chance romance that is as tender as it is tumultuous. Camille Ashwood had a plan for everything, but when her carefully constructed future crumbles, she finds herself starting over, living next door to Dusty Tucker, the man she’s spent years trying to forget. But Dusty never forgot her. As old wounds resurface and feelings she swore were long buried come rushing back, Cam is forced to confront the past she ran from and the love that never really left. With cameos from my RBR favourites and a romance filled with longing, heartbreak and undeniable chemistry, this final installment is one I savoured from beginning to end. —Patty R.

For anyone who's ever been on either side of an "OK, boomer" eye roll

At its start, Camilla Barnes's debut novel of a family absolutely riddled with generation gaps seems almost like a cozy comedy of errors, enhanced with instantly iconic narration. As expected, Harriet Walter's performance is outstanding and so very British, infusing an air of "Oh, you mustn't bother" and "Don't be so silly" into every breath. But as you move through the story, you realize that Barnes's storytelling style and structure—clearly informed by her career in the theatre—challenges the conventional expectation that family dramas will culminate in a cathartic revelation of truth. As with most families, there are a lot of past hurts buried here, and the relative positions of each player prevents them from seeing each other—and their history—clearly. But you as the listener are in for a revelatory experience of feeling deep sympathy and love for each and every one of them. —Emily C.

I don’t want it to end!

Lauren Roberts’s Powerless Trilogy is coming to an end with Fearless, and I’m counting down the days until I learn of Paedyn Gray’s fate. When we last saw Paedyn, she had survived both the Purging Trials and the Scorches, only to be returned to Ilya and caught up in a dangerous triangle with the Azer brothers—the King and the Enforcer of Ilya. If you’ve been sleeping on this series, it’s time to wake up. It’s Red Queen meets The Selection meets The Hunger Games. The tension, the drama, the world-building, the romance—all of it has combined to create a fast-paced, engaging series that always had me entertained (and I’d be remiss not to mention the standout performances of Cecily Bednar Schmidt and Chase Brown). I’ll be sad to say goodbye to Ilya, but I can’t wait to see what Lauren Roberts does next. —Katie O.

Secrets, obsession and deadly consequences

After enjoying The Writing Retreat, I was very excited for Julia Bartz’s new book, The Last Session—and I was not disappointed. This chilling psychological thriller captured me instantly with its eerie atmosphere and mind-bending twists. The story follows Thea, a dedicated social worker whose life is upended when a mysterious, catatonic patient resurfaces from her past. What begins as a search for answers turns into a desperate fight for survival as Thea becomes entangled in the secluded wellness centre’s sinister secrets. Bartz keeps readers on edge with unexpected revelations and an unreliable reality that keeps shifting under Thea’s feet. For fans of Nine Perfect Strangers and The Silent Patient, you will be in for a treat of slow-burning, pulse-pounding suspense. —Dawn G.

Get ready to push your limits

Here's the thing: I love being comfortable and would happily spend all day bingeing TV if not for my Catholic guilt and immigrant parents' lessons on work ethic. That's why I'm excited about Michael Easter's new Audible Original podcast, Embrace Discomfort. Easter's engaging style and talent for simplifying complex ideas, plus the diverse insights of experts like ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter and fear specialist Dr. Joseph E. LeDoux, make this a must-listen for anyone seeking self-improvement. Bonus: You can also catch Easter on Chrissy Teigen's podcast, releasing the same day. —Rachael X.

It’s hard not to get swept away...

Let me first start with a warning: Nidhi Upadhyay’s new tale, The Drowning, can be hard to handle. However, if you can, you won’t regret diving right in. The Drowning follows investigator Kanika as she tries to uncover whether the recent drowning of a baby and the murders of pregnant women are linked by one sick individual or ancient ritual practices. As a listener, I was captivated as the story unfolded, especially once you realize that those you rooted for in the beginning may not be those you root for in the end. The combination of Upadhyay's terrifying but descriptive imagery and narrator Pallavi Bharti's evocative performance left me feeling a hodgepodge of emotions—confusion and shock chief among them. Even with the tough concept, it's an unforgettable listening experience. —Nicole R.

A swirl of anger, a fate embraced

From the brilliant mind of Akwaeke Emezi comes a fascinating story about separated twins and their fight to reunite in a magic-strewn West Africa. Narrator Nene Nwoko lures you in with a performance that’s both gentle and stirring. I found myself feeling so connected to main character Somadina as she experiences growing pains like becoming a woman, realizing her parents are not who she thought they were, and facing the unkind judgement of others. She also experiences deeper hurts, and her endurance is inspiring. There’s nothing quite like Emezi’s illuminating prose, so direct, so simple and so truthful. You’ll find yourself feeling like you’ve uncovered a few truths about life after listening to Somadina and Jayaike’s story. —Melissa B.

The game she never meant to play

After all of the chaos that she caused for her older sister Ophelia in Phantasma, I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to Genevieve Grimm. So when I heard her story, Enchantra, was coming, I pre-ordered it immediately and patiently began my wait—which was so worth it! What starts as an Italian getaway quickly turns into a deadly game where losing means eternal damnation. Genevieve’s only hope? Rowin Silver, the infuriatingly handsome, impossibly guarded heir to the cursed family at the heart of it all. Forced into a fake courtship to survive, their chemistry simmers before exploding into something undeniable. That ending had me on edge, completely immersed in every moment—and now really excited for the next in the series. Laura Horowitz returns to narrate, making this world impossible to leave. —P.R.

Oh, man!

Hell hath no fury like, in this case, three women scorned. One man, a very smooth operator, woos his way into three women’s lives and thinks he has it made. He does for a while, and you’re rooting for the women, who have found a reawakening of their hearts and the companionship they have longed for. One of the women inherits a great house from her grandmother. Mr. Dashing would like to live in those walls. Only thing, Grandma, while living, had her own suitor and he’s kind of already in the house. I can’t tell you any more. Kick back and enjoy! —Yvonne D.

Sound the sirens

Sirens have long used their voices to seduce sailors to their untimely deaths, so, naturally, this spellbinding sophomore novel is meant to be heard. Just like Emilia Hart’s wild and witchy debut, Weyward, The Sirens spans centuries by chronicling the parallel lives of women, this time sisters made inseparable by the sea. Narrator Barrie Kreinik is no stranger to bringing bewitching tales to life (you may recognize her from Slewfoot). Here, she masterfully shifts between accents to transport listeners from rural Ireland to the sublime cliffs of the Australian coast, at times crossing paths with convict ships bound for the penal colony. For anyone who is mesmerized by the ocean (and really, who isn’t?), give this a listen. —Haley H.